Compare towns
Epping vs Stoneham vs Needham vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Epping | Stoneham | Needham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
23,355 |
32,459Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #77 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Stoneham | Needham | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Stoneham High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.7 |
11.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.